Coaching Update: Nets “lukewarm” on Sloan, open to Jackson in front office

Phil Jackson, currently advising the Detroit Pistons with their coaching search, is doing it as a favor to Pistons owner and friend Tom Gores, and “specifically left it open” so that he could look for front office jobs elsewhere, according to Marc Stein of ESPN. The Brooklyn Nets are open to Jackson coming on in a front office capacity, as it seems he does not desire a coaching position. Jackson, Larry Brown, and Brian Shaw still lead the list.

Stein also reports that the Nets are “lukewarm” on the idea of bringing in former Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. Sloan has said he would “definitely listen” if called, despite reports that he retired partially due to his uneasy relationship with former Jazz guard and current Brooklyn Nets player Deron Williams.

Stein reiterated earlier reports that the Nets are not interested in Jeff or Stan Van Gundy, adding that former Los Angeles Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy, former Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan, and current Houston Rockets assistant coach Kelvin Sampson are names the Nets are not pursuing at this time.

Opinion: an ideal situation for Brooklyn would be if they lured Phil Jackson in a presidential capacity to steer the franchise’s culture, and hired Brian Shaw as a first-time coach.